What You Should Know About Adhesions

If you’re going to have open abdominal or pelvic surgery, it’s important to be aware of the complications that can be caused by internal scarring, called adhesions.

Adhesions are common after surgery, as a result of the injuries to tissues and organs that typically occur during the procedure. Adhesions can lead to significant complications, including infertility,¹ bowel obstruction,² chronic pelvic pain³ and complications during future surgeries.⁴

Reducing Adhesions With SEPRAFILM®

Surgeons use many techniques to minimize the formation of adhesions after surgery. One technique is using an adhesion barrier during your procedure. SEPRAFILM is a leading adhesion barrier, proven to be safe and effective^5,6 after open abdominal and pelvic surgery. In a study of patients receiving SEPRAFILM during a 2-stage intestinal surgery, SEPRAFILM patients were about half as likely to develop adhesions to the application site as patients who did not receive an adhesion barrier.⁵

SEPRAFILM is the most widely-used adhesion barrier,⁷ used in more than a million patients.

If you’re having open pelvic or abdominal surgery, ask your doctor if SEPRAFILM may be right for you.

Adhesions Internal scars that may form after surgery on or between internal organs and/or body tissue. Adhesions between tissues can twist and pull organs out of their normal places. Full glossary

Adhesion Barrier A medical device that can be used to reduce internal scarring (adhesions) following surgery by separating the internal tissues and organs while they heal. Full glossary

1. DiZerega GS.  Peritoneal repair and postsurgical adhesion formation. In: Management of Common Problems in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Mishell DR, Goodwin Murphy T, Brenner PF, eds. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing; 2002: 267-271.

 

2. Ellis H, Moran B, et al. Adhesion-related hospital readmissions after abdominal and pelvic surgery: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet. 1999;353(9163):1476-1480.

 

3. Keltz MD, Gera PS, Olive DL.  Prospective randomized trial of right-sided paracolic adhesiolysis for chronic pelvic pain.  JSLS 2006;10(4):443-6.

 

4. Van der Krabben AA, Dijkstra FR, Newuwenhuijzen M, Reijnen MMPJ, Schaapvelt M, van Goor H. Morbidity and mortality of inadvertent enterotomy during adhesiotomy. Br J Surg. 2000;87:467-471.

 

5. Becker JM, Dayton MT, Fazio VW, et al. Prevention of postoperative abdominal adhesions by a sodium hyaluronate-based bioresorbable membrane: a prospective, randomized, double-blind multicenter study. J Am Coll Surg. 1996;183:297-306.

 

5. Becker JM, Dayton MT, Fazio VW, et al. Prevention of postoperative abdominal adhesions by a sodium hyaluronate-based bioresorbable membrane: a prospective, randomized, double-blind multicenter study. J Am Coll Surg. 1996;183:297-306.

 

6. Diamond MP. Reduction of adhesions after uterine myomectomy by SEPRAFILM membrane (HAL-F): a blinded, prospective, randomized, multicenter clinical study. Fert Steril. 1996;66(6): 904-910.

 

7. Data on file: Genzyme Biosurgery.